NT fires

Western NSW set to swelter in heatwave

People living in western and southern parts of inland New South Wales are being warned to prepared for a heatwave over the next week.

Residents of Broken Hill are expected to face top temperatures of at least 40 degrees for the next seven days, with a high of 44 degrees predicted for Saturday.

The Far West Local Health District population health director Therese Jones says elderly people, babies, children, people with a medical condition and people who live alone are the most vulnerable.

She is urging people to take the risk of heat-related illness seriously.

"Drink plenty of fluid, consider other people who might be vulnerable and may not be able to look after themselves, stay in air-conditioning if they've got it, cool off in other ways like sponging down, going to an air-conditioned place," she said.

The heat will also be felt in the state's Riverina region, with a forecast high of 45 degrees in Hay on Saturday.